They are afraid that otherwise there is no substantial update on the government’s proposal to remove the Trust’s statutory consultee role. Last week they met at DCMS with the Heritage Minister, Baroness Twycross, and were encouraged by her interest, but the main driver, as you will know, is the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). We are still waiting for news on the consultation timings, but it is looking increasingly likely that this will now be autumn.

Leaflet

The Green World of Brown Exhibition, Weston Park, Shropshire, 5 Aug – 26 Sept open daily 11:00 to 4.00 pm

This dynamic, mixed-media, free exhibition, The Green World of Brown, presented by The Landscape

Foundation (UK), explores how the most celebrated English landscape designer and early environmentalist Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown (1716-1783) remains the ‘Great Influencer’. Weston Park is one of Brown’s most beloved West Midlands landscapes.

The Green World of Brown focuses on a new direction to the Brown story by showing the works of a broad spectrum of creative people who have been influenced by Brown in the last 300 years in over 60 estates and public parks that are still enjoyed today.

Artists and craftspeople, painters, sculptors, poets, photographers, landscape designers, architects, engineers, musicians, even writers, editors, playwrights, actors and filmmakers, have all been inspired by Brown’s holistic, innovative, naturalistic approach to landscape, architecture and interiors.

If you don’t know anything about ‘Capability’ Brown this will be a great starting point – from his Northumberland farming origins, to being wowed by the beauty, scale and practicality of his inventive holistic designs. The first professional improvement practitioner to become Royal Gardener to George III recognised ‘There wants a good plan’. Sounds simple! We will endeavour to show just how he did it!

Venue: Rose Paterson Gallery, The Granary, Weston Park, Weston-under-Lizard, Shifnal, Shropshire TF11 8LE

Directions: Road: Weston Park is situated on the A5 at Weston-under-Lizard, just 30 minutes from Central Birmingham 3 miles off M54, Junction 3 and 8 miles off M6 Junction 12. You can also reach Weston Park via the M6 Toll Road.

Nearest railway station is Shifnal.

More Information: https://weston-park.com/the-green-world-of-brown-is-coming-to-the-rose-

paterson-art-gallery/

He is expected to complete the course three months early as a result of his hard work and dedication to his learning.
He will receive a bursary of £150 which he is planning to spend on plant irrigation equipment for his particular interest, which is plant propagation.

Connor Thompson is this year’s recipient of the Gardens Trust Brooksby Award.

Connor, who is an apprentice with Leicester City Council’s Parks and Gardens Team, attends College on day release and has made exceptional progress on his horticulture course.

He plans to spend his £150 Award on top quality gardening tools to use at work: secateurs and a saw.  

The Trust is delighted to be able to encourage and reward horticulture students in this way.

He has only lived there for 18 months, and it was the previous owner who was responsible for the alterations to the house and the garden.   He has not done anything and does not intend to change the garden, but leave it as left by the previous owner, although happy to care for it.  (the wisteria was a false clue!)

The house is a 1930’s very solidly built semi and therefore, has a generous sized garden with a large lawn and herbaceous borders giving the sense of a lovely, welcoming open space. 

Now, this is where the idea for Friends visiting each other’s gardens comes from, it’s not about how perfect they are, but about how we can help each other with advice and ideas on gardening matters.   Judith, who was with me, has lots of pots.  Peter wanted advice on what would be the best to grow in pots to fill his terrace, and so he can now visit Judith for her advice.

Elizabeth Bacon

Peter will be happy to see you offering Monday 17th June and Monday 1st July.   

Contact details   01509 212466 E Mail  peter@pfwd.co.uk

Whereas many members visit in April when the tulips are in full bloom, now there is a riot of colour from very different planting, but for me the most surprising of all was the Wildflower Meadow at the end of the garden.  Steve told me they bought the paddock 5 years ago, and the wildflowers are now getting established.   It took me straight back to my childhood when I used to pick Red Campion; Buttercups and Vetch and take these home to my Mum, who tried vainly to keep these alive for a few days. 

I was delighted to see ferns and hostas in a very shady area near the house, which has encouraged me to persevere with my own small attempt to create a fern area and I also saw some wonderful purple & white Tradescantia near their pond (the hard landscaping here was designed I am told by Sue Blaxland) which I hadn’t had chance to see in flower before.  I was also fascinated by the heating system for the Walled Garden, which I had heard/read about, but never had an opportunity to actually investigate before.  Thanks Steve.

There is an awful lot more to explore and enjoy (and I did) but even if YOU have visited previously, I would encourage you to make time to go again at a different time of year and see what other delights you can find.  

Diane & Steve plan to open their garden for the Trust on Sunday 16^th June and also on Monday 29^th July so an opportunity to see the herbaceous borders in full flower.

Judith Proctor

Contact Diane & Steve on 07579211629 or steve@horsfste.plus.com

I was lucky enough to be invited to visit Sue Blaxland’s garden in Syston and wondered as she is a garden designer, whether this would be a garden where there was a place for everything, and everything in its place. It was therefore a lovely surprise to find that some plants had been allowed to roam and self-seed so there is lots of interest and plenty to investigate.

Sue makes great use of colour contrasts and we laughed as she had well established plants using purple and yellow which were so popular at Chelsea this year! Her knowledge of which plants will work well together could give you inspiration should you decide to visit. She does of course know all of the names for each plant, shrub and tree and gave me some ideas of what might work well in my own garden for a shady, north facing space. I also loved her use of climbing roses and indeed have already sourced (and ordered) the Phyllis Bide Rose which I am hoping will arrive in the next few days so that I can settle this in before I join those members of L&RGT who are going to visit the Home Counties in early June.

If you are able to do so, find time to visit Sue’s garden on THURSDAY 18^th JULY. I hope you will find as much inspiration there as I did.

Judith Proctor

Contact details   0116 2609748 E Mail  sue.blaxland@gmail.com

When I arrived she was waiting for me on the pavement, where I was told that we have to go on a

short walk before seeing the garden.  Within a very few minutes we were in a wonderful green space,  Glen Parva Nature Reserve Trail, with tall trees and paths leading to the Grand Union Canal and the Great Central Railway footpath. This puts the garden in context.

Back in the house we see the small garden, which has a largish conservatory,  designed by Judith  which fits perfectly into it’s space.  There are a lot of pots waiting  to be filled and the planting shows real imagination and intelligence.  I will say no more about that,  as I want you to see it as I did for the first time. She has created a space which is secluded,  peaceful and very quiet, making full use of the tall trees from the spinney,  with the added bonus of extra bird song.  The relationship of garden,  conservatory and living room make a perfect whole.

Elizabeth Bacon

Judith will be happy to see you on  Tuesday June 4^th or Wednesday July 3^rd.   

Mobile 07415910994  Email  foxgloves241@googlemail.com

From the patio doors the paving leads to a small pathway and a delightful walkway past her kitchen door to the front garden gate.  The bright yellow flowers of the Welsh Poppies were such a treat and a welcome ray of colour on a grey and cloudy morning.  Overhead there’s the promise of roses later in the year which Elizabeth tells me are “Bobby James” with a profusion of white flowers, so something to return to see another day.

The main garden is effectively 4 “rooms” and after the paving area you find densely planted beds, which proudly shows off a small headed, dark red peony with Elizabeth tells me had no label, and was bought cheaply.  She still doesn’t actually know the name of this plant, so if YOU visit, maybe you can help her identify it?

Walking on to the 3^rd area, there’s the most amazing Snake Bark  Maple, the bark has a whole range of colours, and just has to be stroked!  There are some beautiful Lime Green Vibernum to see here too, and then the gnarled trunks of several apple trees to enjoy.  The flowers show a promise of fruits later in the year. 

   This is where Elizabeth has created her very private seating area, with a covered seat to shelter her from the breeze whilst she listens to the birds singing and plans her gardening tasks.  Look carefully and you may even find the metal topiary frame Elizabeth is creating, using her own face covering.   A lovely, unusual unexpected and inventive touch, but you need to search the bottom of the hedges to find it.

The final room is based on a circle of grass bordered by high hedges and again lots of natural planting and colour even at this time of year, including bluebells allowed to naturalise and a beautiful stone stature.  From here, look back up the garden, and you can hardly see the house, but there are still treats to find as you walk back, and an opportunity to explore the garden view again from a different perspective.

So did I use all 5 of my senses?   Sight without a doubt; Sound from bird songs and even a small plane from Stoughton Airport; Touch beingthe bark of various trees or stroking the flower heads; Smell from the apple blossom so all that remains is Taste and if I visit again at the right time, maybe a chance to enjoy some apples?   Who knows.

I hope this brief summary encourages you to visit Elizabeth’s garden.  She plans to be there for visitors on Wednesday June 26th and Monday August 26th.

Judith Proctor

Contact details 0116 2705711 email bacon605@btinternet.com

Transcript of the notes

interim, to pass away the time, Mrs Fry & I being alone, she took up her Work- Basket, & I took up “The stoops to conquer” & read two or three Acts of it to Mrs Fry till my Cousin, returned Home to supper.
Wednesday 30 Sept
After breakfast had a walk down. Garendon Lane, over the Meadows leading to Sheep’s- head, as far as the handsome Road, with long rows of Trees on each side of it, this is the Coach-road to Garendon Park . –

After Dinner, Mr Fry, my Cousin, & I took a walk into the Park, and such a day for Views, I never experienced, the Atmosphere was so uncommonly clear. We stopped a little while at the Obelisk, from which, there is a very

extensive prospect for many miles round the Country. –
On this obelisk there is an Inscription, I think it is engraved on a piece of copper, but the words are scarcely legible, “Erected by Ambrose Phillipps Esqr AD. 1733” The wooden base of the Shaft removed and replaced with cast Iron, and the four Balls re-set A.D. 1801.

We passed on to Mr Philipps House.

Saw some beautiful swans swimming on a piece of Water; between it, and the House, the grass is kept in such handsome Order, that it looks just like a smooth Green Carpet. – On the Grass there were two Muscovy geese. They are very pretty Birds, but have not the appearance of Geese, they look more like Ducks when they are swimming. We then proceeded on to one of the Park-Gates.

Afterwards we went to the chief Game Keeper’s Lodge, as my Cousin, wished to speak to him _ On our way close to this Lodge, the Dog was very angry at our intrusion, and barked tremendously loud at us, not withstanding which, we did not fear him, for he was chained to his House – We had. a little chat with the Game Keeper, at the door of the Lodge – I asked him if he recollected assisting contaminating the Holy Water with a little drop of Brandy last Year when we regaled ourselves. with some cold roast Beef, Mustard, & Bread & Cheese under a tree, after Shooting – “Oh yes, Sir,” says he,” and I remember you, and that Mr Fry had excellent sport that morning, & that it was a was a very beautiful day.

We then passed on to the Temple._

From thence we crossed the Park on our way Home; in our ramble through it, we saw plenty of Deer, some of whom had shed both their horns; others had shed only one horn, the other still remaining_ the Hares were also very busy, scampering about in all directions.

There. were some most beautiful. Groups of Trees, and now & then, over deep Vallies, and through long avenues of Frees we caught distant Views of the High Hills in Charnwood Forest, which were most beautifully, and truly picturesque. I am sure it would have been an admirable Subject, for any of our best Landscape Painters, and if they felt as much pleasure in Painting such Scenery, as I did in seeing it, they would have been most amply gratified.

After enjoying a beautiful sunset, we returned home to tea, pretty well tired, at least, I was so, for I had had a longish walk in the morning, to which I must add our Evening walk, altogether making about 8 miles, this was pretty well, for a Valeturinavian like me._

Thursday 1 October
Did not go out till about 12 oclock, having had to read the last “Act of The stoops to conquer” to Mrs Fry while she was at work with her needle. – Afterwards I took a short walk over Mr Middleton’s meadows.
& through Thorpe Acre, and then returned home to dinner.

Mr Fry & my Cousin went to Loughborough in the Afternoon. –